Continuous Local Symmetry: Connection to Reactivity and Recognition

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical framework to quantify continuous local symmetry and chirality in molecules, revealing their influence on stability, reactivity, and recognition, with applications to dendralene and porphyrin systems.

Contribution

It presents a novel method to measure local symmetry and chirality continuously within molecules, linking these properties to chemical reactivity and recognition.

Findings

Strong correlation between local symmetry and molecular stability.

Parity-dependent behavior observed in dendralene reactions.

Local chirality fields in porphyrins reveal recognition signatures.

Abstract

Symmetry is one of the most beautiful yet mysterious concepts in science. In chemical systems, presence of local symmetries at specific fragments often serve as driving forces behind many physicochemical properties, including stability, spectroscopy, and reactivity. Moreover, degree of symmetry varies continuously with molecular dynamics and intermolecular interactions, making it a hidden but decisive factor. In this study, we propose a theoretical framework to quantify continuous degrees of symmetry and chirality localized within constrained regions of a molecular environment. Application of this method to reaction sites of dendralene molecules reveals strong correlations between local symmetry and molecular stability, parity-dependent behavior, and Diels--Alder reactivity. Additionally, representations of local chirality (chirotopicity) fields in porphyrins uncover unique signatures accounting for the chirality recognition power. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of local symmetries within a molecular framework on predicting chemical properties.